FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE AUDITORIUM HVAC PROJECT
The City Auditorium was served by an HVAC system that contained a fan and heating coils dating to the building's original construction in 1938. A condenser and cooling coils were added in 1990. Over the last several years, there have been ongoing maintenance issues with the system. Due to the age of the equipment and the ongoing maintenance issues, it was determined that the best course of action was to replace the system and modernize it for ease of use and maintenance.
The project design involved removing the existing systems and installing a traditional rooftop unit to provide heating and cooling for the Auditorium. The project was then modified to eliminate the use of natural gas and to incorporate a heat pump to replace the air-cooled condenser, resulting in lower electrical use throughout City Hall during the winter months.
On August 13, 2024, City Council approved preliminary plans and specifications for the Ames City Auditorium HVAC Replacement Project. On September 24, 2024, the project was awarded to Mechanical Comfort, Inc., of Ames, IA, in the amount of $1,430,000. During the project, there were five approved change orders, as shown in the table below.
| Change Order | Amount | Description |
| 1 | ($25,030.00) | Value engineering to reduce the costs of the project by switching heat pump units and reducing piping. Controls upgrade to current version |
| 2 | $4,560.00 | Remove heat pump, and duct. Reroute loop piping |
| 3 | $8,594.00 | Move lobby steam control valve to tunnel so no visible controls or wiring in lobby. Replace defective mechanical room control valve |
| 4 | $10,638.44 | Move stage lights, disconnect uncontrolled steam radiator, add volume dampers for sound. Bypass line for chillers required for warranty |
| 5 | $2,710.50 | Time and materials to block off duct due to the sound in the Auditorium. Additional adjusting and balancing |
| Total | $1,473.00 |
This brings the final cost of the project to $1,431,473. On May 26, 2026, City Council approved the reduction of project retainage to $40,000 to cover the cost of an electrical panel that was damaged during construction. This work has now been completed. The funding used for the project is shown below.
| Funding | Amount |
| General Fund Savings | $ 650,000 |
| American Rescue Plan Funds | 200,000 |
| City Hall Improvements CIP | 278,140 |
| Council Priorities Capital Fund | 332,081 |
| Total | $ 1,460,221 |
- Accept the Auditorium HVAC Project as completed by Mechanical Comfort, Inc., of Ames, IA, in the amount of $1,431,473.
- Direct staff to make changes to the project.
The Auditorium HVAC project has been completed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications, and the City Auditorium now has a new, modern HVAC system. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative No. 1, as noted above.